Oil burner



Aug. 20, 1935. w. G. LATIM ER OIL BURNER Filed Oct. 13, 1930,

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 71 222767??? 6?: [Q 6;??? er ATTORNEYS 1935., w. G. LATlMER 2,011,9(31

OIL BURNER Filed Oct. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR' ATTORN EY/S Aug. 20, 1935. w. G. LATIMER OIL BURNER Filed Oct. 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m M \.7 \E g. y E 4 J p my p 4 3 X K c I if D o! A 5 C A vL z y a E William Latz'mer ATTORNEY with household heating plants,'.and has among Patented Aug. 2Q, 1935 v U neois'r nun This invention relates to oil burnersmore'particularly designed forinstallationin connection its objects the following:

First: To obtain a constructionwhich may be 7 applied to any type of: heating furnace-without any alteration therein, either by way of removal I of grates or other parts, thus leaving the furnace in condition for use at any time with solid fuel.

Second: The mounting of the apparatus-in such amanner 'thatit may be instantaneously inserted in or removed from the furnace without "detachmentof any of the-fuel or electrical connections and when removed will not interfere with the use of the furnace with other fuels.

, Third: To obtain an exceedingly efiicient burner construction which is continuousinstead of being intermittent in its operation, thereby dispensing with the necessity'for a pilot light or other ignition device.

Fourth: To'obtainregulating means through:

which the quantity of fuel supplied to theburner is varied to increase orediminish the flame area and the heat generation.

Fifth: To obtain automatic means for varying the quantitygof air supplied to the flame according to itsneed; so as to obtain proper combustion and efliciency in all positions of adjust- .ment. 7 Sixth: To so control the feeding tribution of the liquid fuel, as to'prevent the and the disproduction of carbon, which would clog or interfere with the proper'operation of the appara tus, and which also substantially vaporizes the fuel before ignition. I 1

Seventh: To cool the portions of the apparatus that may be injured by overheating and to utilize the heat abstracted in coolingfor the preheating of the air supplied to the flame;

Eighth: To provide a gas starter for use in.

raising the burner to the proper temperature for operation with liquid fuel, which starter may,

. if desired, be utilized for the heating of thefurnace inplace of the liquid fuel, particularly where only a little heat is required for a short time.

With these and many other minor objects in view, the inventionconsistsin the construction as hereinafter'set forth. 1 l

In the drawings: 1

Figure 2 is a vertical central longitudinalsection' through the burner;

part of the burner asshownin Fig. 2.

- r q l housing C Figure 1 .is-a perspective view of my burner. j is connected to the shaft of the motor H prefas applied to a furnace;

.xFigure 3 isa horizontal section thereof partly in elevation;

Figured is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 Figure 5, is a sectional view on a large scale of:

'As has been stated, my improved burner is so mounted that it may be applied toor removed from the furnacewithout detachment of the fuel and electrical connections. To accomplish this, I' first provide a hollow pedestal A on-the upper portion of which is mounted a'laterally extending hollow arm B carrying at its outerend a shelf C for supporting the motor. This shelf is preferably formed integral with a vertically extending plate-C which forms a closure forthe fuel door opening of the furnace." "Projecting inwardly from this plate or cl'os ure'and preferably formed'integral therewith is a cylindrical casing C which extends. to substantially the central plane of the furnace fire. pot and-has mounted res AT NT oFFrEY at its inner end'a rotaryburner as hereinafter described. 3 g r The burner is of that type in which the fuel is fed outward over a revolving disc and is discharged fromthe periphery of this disk to produce the flame; However, the construction differs radica' lyfrom those'usually employed, first, in the manner of feeding and distributing'the liquid fuelthereon and second, inthemeans employed for'preventing combustion or overheating of. the fuel untilit is discharged from the periphery of i the burner disc, the detailed construction being as follows: I V l D is a disc preferably formed of sheet metal and integral and coaxial with a cylindrical sleeve portion D. Between the cylindricalportion .D"

' and the discis a-slightly flaring or conical portion D which extends outward beyond the plane of thedisc and is then return bentat D with a substantially.cylindrical portion D extending backward and merging into the disc. The 'disc'D is mounted upon a spider which also carries 7 disc E spacedffroin the disc D. The "spider E is provided at its center with the hub E detachably secured to a shaftF preferably by a thread ed engagement therewith. This shaftis journnaked in bearings G whichiarepreferably carried by inner tubular housing member G mounted within and secured at Ctto' the outer cylindrical The opposite end of the shaft F Thus the shaft will be driven at motor speed and will communicate its movement first to the spider E and then to the disc D and sleeve D.

The fuel is supplied to the burner through a nozzle I which is arrangedto discharge the liquid at the base of the flaring portion D of the sleeve D. The sleeve D extends into a housing G at the inner end of the housing G and which'forms an air chamber through which air is to be supplied to the burner; that the sleeve D is in close proximity to an annular bearing G in the housing G to form prao.

tically a sealed joint and beyond this. bearing is a an annular portion G which extends in proximity to the disc D. On this annular portion G is mounted a non-revoluble disc J which is spaced from the disc!) a sufficient distance to permit the passage outward of the liquid fuel film but close enough to protect the fuel fronr ignition until .it is discharged from the periphery of the. disc.

Thus in operation the fuel discharged from the nozzle I'will.first. .come in contact with theouter surface of the conical portion D of the sleeve D and through the combined'action of capillarlty and centrifugal force will be fed spirally outward on the revolving'cone. This continues until the fuel reaches the return bend D where its progress is'checked by the cylindricalreturn bent portion D so that by the. time the fuel reachesthe .disc D it'is quite uniformly distributed. From this point centrifugal action causes the film to move radially outward until it is finally discharged from is effected by surrounding the disc D with an annular member .J which as will be hereinafter explained, is maintained at a; temperature above the vaporizing point of the fuel. 'Thus the film of fuel which is discharged from the periphery of the disk will be vaporized when in proximity to the member J" and will be discharged from the outer end of said member as a combustible gas burning in'close proximity thereto. .A' portion of the heat of combustionwill he. conducted back through t e member J and will thus maintain said-member at the desired temperature. to first raisecthe temperature of the member J by other means and to this end ,I have provided a preheating gas'burner: K. This preferably formed by a disc K secured to and extending cutward fromthe disk J and fashioned to forman annular channel K which abuts against a flange C at the outer end of the tubular housing A gasket'K seals the joint between the disk K and flange C so as to form a gastight conduit which communicates atone point with a gas conduit K extending'parallel to the casing C from outside the furnace door. The outerwall of the channel K is perforated at K to form gas jets adjacent to the'periphery of the member J, and

an annular shield K confines the gas with only a restricted channel between the same andla flange J upon the member J Thus in starting, when gas is supplied through the conduit K it will burn just outside the restricted passage between the member K and flange J and will The. arrangement is such It is,however, necessary supply sufficient heat to the member J i or the ini tial vaporization of the liquid fuel. 7

The air for supporting combustion is supplied to the flame throughthe space between the discs D' and E This space communicates through the interior of "the sleeve D with the chamber within the housing G Mounted on thehousing G? isa damper or air valve L which when. open will establish communication between the chamber in the housing G and the space "within the vcylindrical housing C The air is propelled longitudinally through the housing C by means of a suitable fan 0 or other air propelling device driven by the motor, and as shown this fan isf'mounted upon the universal joint I-l and is arranged within a housing 0 between the motor H and the'door C. Whenever the damper-L is opened a portion of ,this air will pass into the housing 6 and through the space between the discs D and E radially outwardagainst thefiame, The valve'Lis prefer- .ably thermostaticallycontrolled and-to this end is mounted on a rock shaft Lf passing horizontally-outward through the cylinder C and having attachedatits outer end a spiral thermostat L 1 When the parts are cold the damper or valve L -will be substantially closed but after the burner is heated the thermostat L by expanding will rock the shaft L and open the valve.

The degree to which it is opened depends upon the temperature of the casing which in turn depends upon the size of the flame that is issuing from the burner. flame is increased by agreater' supply of liquid fuel the increased heat will afiect the further opening of-t he'valve L so asto. supply additional '-air for theflame. A further function that is performed bythepassage of air through this -course' is the cooling of the shaft and inner por- "between the shields M and the disc E which lessens the amount of heat that'can penetrate to the disc E u To further protect the mechanism from overheatingIarrange' between the housing G and the outerhousing C one or more tubular partitions and circulate the surplus air propelled by the fairand not entering the housing G through the passages between said partitions. As shown in'Figure 2 a segmentalcylindrical shield N surrounding a-portion of the housing C forms a channel N for the air through which a portion or" the air passing inward through the housing C will-be returned outward through the ports N channel Ni and ports N and will be dis charged outside of the furnace. circulation of air will be. constant during the operation of the furnace and will therefore prevent the overheating of the housing C -and the air passing therethr'oug'h. Thisin turn will prevent over heating of the bearings C 'As a further precaution the inner housing Gis supported within the through these members. i i

The oil conduiugasconduit and the electrical conductors for the motor all pass upward vConsequently whenever the thermostat L is employed forv this the opening.

through the hollow pedestal Aand the laterally extending arm Bto the shelf C.

In the event the fuel heating member J should'cool to such low temperature that the fuel 1 is not properly vaporized to support proper combustion, as for example, in case the fuel supply is exhausted, means are provided for preventing flow of fuel to theburner after the fueltanl: is replenished. A thermostat U, similar to spiral purpose. This thermostat when cooling will rock a bellcranlrlever U which in turn will'move therod S to the right (as viewed in Fig. 4) causing stop S to move to the right. is loosely mounted on the rod L and comprises an arm U which lies in they path of spiralrtherv most-at U and is engaged by' the-end of the thermostat and forced upwardly, when the thermostat cools. The bell-crank lever-U includes a depending arrnll arranged to engage the projection S on the rod S The spiral thermostat U being disposed. adiacent the heating ring J}, it is responsive to'the temperature thereoitherefore, when the ring cools the thermostat will'cool to rock the bell- ,crank lever U causing the arm U to move the projection S to the right. Thismovement causes the stop S to releaserod R whereby the weight R5 is effective to close the valve R to shut off the How of fuel to the burner..

7 From the description above given'the operations of installing and of running the oil burner will be understood, but briefly described are as follows: The pedestal A being suitably positioned,'the arm 3 is'free to swing from a position Where the shelf C and burner are clear of the furnace to a position where the burner may be inserted through the furnace dooropening; Such movement is permitted by forming the pedestal A with a swingable telescopic upper portion A the latter carrying the. arm B. The regular furnace door is then either removed or swung to av completely open position after which the arm B is swung inward to carry the burner During. this adjustment the upper telescopicportion A of the pedestal A is raised sufficiently for the innerv endiof the burner to clear the bottom of the; door opening, but alter insertion it is lowcred so that thc hou 'ng' E rests upon the bottom of said door opening. The plate C is then pressed againstthe front of the door'iranie so as to completely close the opening. Ifit is desired to immediately run the burner the gas starter may be first lighted before the insertion of the burner and is.

til run for a euflicient lengthof time to do the pi nininary heating. The motor is thenstarted which communicates rotary motion to theshaft' F and disc D after which the liquid fuel valve is,

will issue as a stream of gas from the periphery of the disk. At the same time air which has passed from the fan through the space within the inner partition N will reach the partly open valve L and a portion will pass into the housing G and then through the space between the discs D and E, striking against the flame at theper'ipheryof the disc. This will support smoke- ;.heating the furnace.

which requires very littleyattention after it is. once'started, but if for any reason it should be required to clean the burner this, may be easily accomplished by swinging the burner out from' the furnace chamber and detaching the rotary The bell-crank lever U less combustion but-as the airis not commingled with the gas the flame will bewhite. In other words; :a flamethat is high in radiant heat is produced, this being the most efiicient way of The construction is one disk from the end of the-shaft.

The annular groove whichis formed by thereturn bent portionD D of the dish constitutes in effect an annular distributing well in which a I certain amount of the liquid fuel is temporarily The larger the capacity of this well detained. thelonger the :tuel will be detained, which modifles both the degree of heat which is. imparted to thefuel and the cooling eiiect on the disk. Due to this fact I' am enabled toqadapt my burner for eithermild or, very cold weather by merely exchanging discs. Thus the greatest ef-- :ticiency is obtained when the burner is operating low, as in the spring and fall of the year, when 'usedwith a disc having a comparatively shallow well but in mid-winter greater efliciency isobtained by using adisohaving a dee er well.

The changing of the discs is so easily effected that this method of operation may be much more satisfactory than retaining the one" constructi'on for all seasons of the year. I V Where the burner is operating low, it .is highly desirable to maintain uninterrupted feeding of the liquid fuel as otherwise there would be danger -of e burner goingcut. it is, however, difficult to. maintain a continuousliq stream where quantity is small but'l have avoided this diiiiculty by placing the discharge end of the nozzle I in very. close proximity to the surface D on which the liquid is discharged. This-hasthe eiiect of maintaining the conti- 'nuity of the liquid stream due to, capillarity,

whereas if the nozzle were spaced :further.,.from

the revolving surface the liquid might break up into drops. Furthermore;a positive propulsion force for the. fuel is exerted as an air sealis formed which preve -ts back atmospheric pros sure against the fuel the nozzle and therefore a syp'hon effect isproduced by the revolving disc. Thus the'liquid fuel will be fed successfully however small the quantity.

; What I claimasiny invention is:

"1. The combination with a rotary shaft, of a disc mounted at the end of said'shait, a sleeve portion surrounding and coaxial with the shaft,

an annular distributing well intermediate said sleeve portion and disc, and means for feeding.

liquid fuel onto the outside surface of. said sleeve whereby the combined forces of. 'capillarity and centrifugal actionwill feed the liquid to. the well and distribute the same irointhe, well uniformly over the surface of said disc from whichit is peripherally discharged. 4

2. In an oil burneig;the coinbination. witlia rotary: shaft, of. a disc mounted on the end of said shaft,- a slightly conical sleeve portion "S111";

rounding and coaxial with said shaft, anannular, I distributing well connecting said conical sleeve portion with said disc, and means for feeding liquid-fuel onto the conical portion or" said sleeve from which it is distributed by the combined force of capillarity and centrifugal action to the well and radially outward of said'disc to he discharged from" the peripheral edge thereof.

' 3. In an oil burner, the combination-with a rotary shaft, of a disc mounted on the end of said shaft, a sleeve portion surrounding and coaxial with the shaft, means for feeding liquid fuel on the outer surface of said sleeve portion from which it is distributed a film over the surface,

of said disc, and means for preventing the propagation of flame on the oil film side of said disk including a stationary member parallel to'said disc on the liquid film side thereof and in close juxtaposition with the periphery of the disk and the film side of said disk. 7

4. In an oil burner, the combination with arotary shaft, of a housing surrounding said shaft, a

disc at the end of said housingmounted on the end of said rotary shaft, a sleeve surrounding and coaxial with the shaft, a member onsaid housing parallel and in close proximity to said disc, means for feeding liquid fuel on the outer surface of said sleeve whereby it is distributed therefrom in a film passing radially out between said disc and the adjacent member,- and means for passing air through said sleeve and upon the out'erside of said disc to meet the fuel at theperiphery of the disc. 1

v 5. In an oil burner, the combination with a rotaryshaft, of a-housing surrounding said shaft and forming a conduit for air current, a disc mounted on'said shaft at the end of said housing, a sleeve surrounding and coaxial with said shaft, a member on said housing arranged par-' support combustion whereby the heat of the flame will be conducted radially inward of said disc and said air current will cool the central portion of the disc.

6. In an oil burner, the combination with a plate forming a closure for a door opening of a furnace, of a motor mounted on the outside of said plate, a shaft driven by said motor extending through said plate and into the furnace chamber, a housing surrounding said shaft also projecting inward from said plate, a disc adjacent to the end of said housing mounted on said shaft to revolve therewith, a sleeve portion extending into housing and coaxial with said shaft, a stationary disc mounted, on said housing-to extend radially'inward parallel to said rotary disk in close proximity thereto, the inner endof said stationary disc beingattached to an inner housing in close proximity to said sleeve, means for feeding liquid fuel upon the outer surface of said sleeve between the same and said inner housing whereby the-fuel is distributed over said rotary disc in the space between the sameand said stationary disc and is discharged from the periphcry, a shield spaced from said rotary disc on the side opposite'said stationary disc and connected and revolving with the shaft, means for passing air through said housing and through said'sleeve into the space between said rotary disc and shield and radially outward therethrough to meet the fuel'at the periphery of the disc, means for regulating the quantity of fuel fed to said sleeve and automatic means'for correspondingly regulating-the quantity of air passing through said sleeve and to the periphery ofthedisc.

7. In an oil burner, the combination of a ro-Z tary disc. a sleeve. a shield mounted upon and the periphery of said disc.

IGVIn anoil' burner, thecombination with a' spacedfrom said disc on the side opposite said sleeve, a member parallel to said disc and in close proximity thereto on the side opposite from said shield, means for feeding liquid fuel onto said sleeve to be distributed therefrom radially outward from said disc between the same and the member in close proximity thereto, and means for passing air through said sleeve and between said shield and disc, to meet the fuel at the periphery of the disc. I

8. In an oil burner, the combination of a rotary disc, a sleeve, members arranged on opposite cooled by said liquid fuel and air and the heat of combustion passes by conduction from the periphery of said disc radially inward.

9. In an oil burner, the combination with a plate forming a closure for a door opening of the furnace, of a motor mounted outside said plate, a shaft driven by said motor extending through said plate and inward into the furnace, a housing mounted on said plate and surrounding saidshaft to also extend inward into the furnace, an inner housing provided with journal bearings for said shaft, a disc mountedupon the inner end of said shaft having its periphery adjacent to said outer housing, a sleeve extending adjacent to-said inner housing, a; stationary disc extending between said outer and inner housings, adjacent and in close proximity to said rotary-disc, a shield mounted on said shaft on the opposite side of said disc and spaced therefrom, means for feeding liquid fuel onto the outer surface of said sleeve from which it is distributed radially outward of said rotary disc between the same and the'member in close proximity thereto, means for,

feeding air between said outer and inner housings, and a damper for closing an opening in said in; nor housing adjustable to deflect a portion of said air through said inner housingand sleeve and between said shield and disc to meet the fuel at plate'forming a closure for a door opening of the furnace, of a motor mounted outside said plate, a shaft driven by said motor extending through said plate and inward into the furnace, a housing mounted on said plate and surrounding said shaft to also extend inward into the furnace, an inner housing provided with journal bearings for said a shaft, a disc mountedupon the-inner end of said therefrom, means for feeding liquid fuel onto the outer surface of: said sleeve from which it is distributed radially outward of said rotary disc between the sarne and the member in close proximity thereto, means for feeding air between said outer and inner housings, a damper for closing an opening in said inner housing adjustable to deflect a portion'of said air through said inner housingand sleeve and between said shield and disc to meet the fuel at the periphery of said disc, and thermostatic means operated by the pro-heating burner surrounding said housing adjacent to the periphery of said disc, a stationary disc secured to said housing and extending par allel and in close proximity to said rotary disc, means for, feeding liquidfuel on said sleeve from which it is distributed over said rotary disc between the same-and the parallel stationary disc,

a shield secured to and rotatingwith said shaft and disc arranged on the opposite side from said stationary disc and spaced from said rotary disc,

and means for feeding air'through said housing and through said sleeve into the space between 7 said shield and rotary disc and radially outward tomeet the fuel'at'theperiphery of the disc, whereby the central portion of said disc is cooled by saidliquid fuel and air and the outer portion of the disc is heated initially by said pro-heating r burner and subsequently from the combustion of the liquid fuel.

12. In an oil burner, the combination of a hollow pedestal, a swinging hollow arm mounted on the upper end of said pedestal, a shelf mounted on the outer endof said swinging arm and providing a support for a motor, a plate extending upward from said shelf forming a closure for a door opening of the furnace, a burner housing projecting inward from-said plate, a rotary disc at the inner end of said burner housing, a shaft for coupling said motor with the said rotary disc, a gas operated pro-heating burner at the inner end of said burner housing, a nozzle for supplying liquid fuel to said rotary disc, conduits for supplying gas and liquid fuel arranged within said hollow pedestal and swinging arm and connected respectively with said pro-heating burner and nozzle and electrical connections also passing through said pedestal andhollow arm to said motor whereby the whole burner assembly may be swung upon said hollow arm into. or out of engagement with the furnace. v

13. In an oil burner, the combination with a hollow pedestal, of telescopic extension for saidpedestal, a swinging hollow arm mounted on said telescopic extension, a shelf mounted on the free end of said hollow arm, a plate forming a closure for a door opening in the furnace secured to, said shelf, a motor mounted on said shelf, a shaft driven by said motor extending through said plate and into the furnace chamber, a housing surrounding said shaft, a disc at the inner end of said housing mounted on said shaft, a nozzle for, supplying liquid fuel to said disc,a;preheating gas burneron said housing adjacent to the periphery of said disc, and conduits for supplying gas. and

I liquid fuel respectively to said pro-heating burner and nozzle passing upward through said pedestal and through said hollow arm, said conduits permitting of the telescopic movement of said moved from thefurnace chamber without interference. I I

14. In an oil burner, the combination with a rotaryshaft, of a disk mounted on the end of said shaft, a sleeve surrounding and concentric with the shaft, a nozzle for feeding liquid fuel onto the outer surface of said sleeve portion and having the outlet thereof arranged in suchclose proximity to thesleeve as to maintain a constant liquid sealbetween the outlet of the nozzle and the sleeve whereby an unbroken columnof, liquid will be maintained, however small the quantity which will be distributed by the combined force of capillarity and centrifugal, action. 7

15. The combination with a rotary shaft, of a comically shaped sleeve driven by the shaft, rotatable radially extending fuel directing means driven by the shaft, a distributing well in fuel receiving relationship with: the sleeve. for supplying fuel to the fuel directing'means, and means for delivering fuel to the Sleeve, I

16. The combination with a rotary shaft, of a .conically shaped sleeve drivenby the shaft,'ro-

tatable disk like fuel'directing means driven by the shaft, a distributing well in fuel receiving relationship with the sleeve for supplying fuel to the fuel directingiineans, and meansfor delivering fuel to are sleeve.

1'7. In an oil burner, the combination with a. rotatable radially extending fuel directing means,

of a sleeve on one side of said means for feeding fuel to said side of said means, means for delivering fuel to said sleeve, means for passing air through said sleeve, and a shield on the other side of said means for causing the ail-to meet the fuel discharged from said fuel directing means.

18. In an oil burner, the combination with arotary fuel directing device, a liquid fuel feeding nozzle having an inlet connected with a source ofliquid fuel, said nozzle having an outlet arranged -infuel wiping relation with the rotary fuel directing device and substantially parallel with the oil receivingsurface thereof to'maintain a constant film of fuel between the outlet of the nozzle and the rotary device when the flow of fuel isreduced to a minimum. a u 19. A heating system comprising in combination a furnace, afuel burner having itsburner end within the. furnace, said end including moving elements, and means for causing air from the ex- 1 terior of the furnace to circulate in close proximitywith said moving elements for cooling the elenients, and means to discharge said air exteriorly of the furnace. 3

20. A heating system comprising in combina-- tion, a furnace, a fuel burner having its burner end within the furnace, said end including moving elements, and means for causing air from the exteriorof the furnaceto circulate in close proximity with said tnovingelements for cooling the elements, and means .to discharge said air exteriorly of the furnace, said first named means also supplying air to 'support'combustion.

W LLIAM G. LATIMER.

' pedestal permitting both the telescopic movement of said pedestal and the swinging of said arm whereby said burner may be introduced or re- 

